Running a plumbing or drainage project? This calculator estimates pipe length and fittings based on your layout. Getting the right fittings before you start means fewer trips to the hardware store.
Run Length
ft
Fittings
Scenario: You're running 50 ft of 3-inch PVC drain pipe with four 90-degree elbows, two tees, and three couplings.
Result: Pipe: 50 ft + 10% waste = 55 ft (5 ten-foot sticks). Plus 4 elbows, 2 tees, 3 couplings, and 1 can of PVC primer/cement.
Drain lines: 1.5-inch for sinks, 2-inch for showers, 3-inch for toilets, 4-inch for main sewer. Supply lines: 1/2-inch for individual fixtures, 3/4-inch for main supply. Check your local plumbing code for specific requirements.
Use PVC primer (purple) followed by PVC cement (clear or gray). Apply primer to both the pipe end and inside the fitting, then immediately apply cement and push together with a quarter-turn twist. Hold for 30 seconds. Allow 24 hours before pressure testing.
Drain pipes should slope 1/4 inch per foot toward the outlet. For a 20-foot run, the far end should be 5 inches higher than the outlet end. Too steep and water outruns solids; too flat and waste builds up.
Add 10% to your measured run length. Every fitting connection uses about 1 inch of pipe inside the fitting socket, and cuts occasionally go wrong. PVC pipe is sold in 10-foot sticks -- round up to the nearest stick.
Want to learn more before you start your project?
Read the full guide →
All Calculators
